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Connect the World

Saudi Arabia Blames U.S. For Double Agent Leak; Barack Obama Comes Out In Favor Of Same-Sex Marriage; Pakistani Prime Minister on Deteriorating Relationship With US; Cracks in the Rainbow: South African Town Symbolizes Broken Promises; ANC Advisor Responds to Charges; Fusion Journeys: Classical Violinist Travels to Buenos Aires to Learn Tango; Response to US President's Support for Marriage Rights for Same-Sex Couples

Aired May 09, 2012 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Tonight on Connect the World, the plot thickens. We know the suicide bomber is sent to blow up a U.S. airliner infiltrated al Qaeda in Yemen. Now the intriguing fallout from the disclosure he was an undercover agent.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN London, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.

Saudi Arabia slams the United States for leaking confidential intelligence on the foiled terror attacks. Tonight, this hour, we reveal whether the latest security technology would have detected the device.

Also tonight...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YOUSAF RAVA GILANI, PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN: There's a trust deficit between both the countries and between both the governments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The Pakistani prime minister admits Pakistani-U.S. relations are at rock bottom.

And, riding into the record books: how this monster wave has sent this surfer into the annals of history.

As good as it gets: that is how one security official has described the intelligence operation that thwarted a plot to bring down a U.S.-bound airliner. But today's revelation that the would-be bomber was in fact a mole working for Saudi intelligence services hasn't been welcomed by everyone. The Saudis are said to be furious the details were leaked. And the U.S. has launch an internal review to find out if any of its agencies were responsible.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PETER KING, (R) NEW YORK: It's really to me unfortunate that this had gotten out because this could really interfere with operations overseas. And I'm sorry to do this, I really cannot comment on any of those details. I know it's out there. I know it's being reported. And I also was at a briefing this afternoon with top officials and there's a really great concern that this got out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson has been working his sources to bring us the very latest information on this story. And I'm also joined this hour from Washington by Charlie Allen who is a former undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

First to you, Nic, tonight. Real fears here that this news may, one, compromise other operations, but two, has fleshed out, as it were, a sort of diplomatic incident between the Saudis and the U.S.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Saudis were very quiet about this from the beginning. What they're saying now through sources that are talking to us. They're saying they are frustrated and angry that this information has come out of Washington. They're blaming the United States for the leak of the information in the first place.

And they're saying on top of this they have a network of informants, spies if you will, inside al Qaeda both in Yemen and in other countries where al Qaeda is operating. And international intelligence agencies like the United States, like the CIA, like MI6 here in the UK rely on the Saudis. And here this leak jeopardizes those operatives they have on the ground. Some of them are Saudis, some of them are Yemeni, some of them are other nationalities.

But they are putting their lives on the line, risking their lives inside al Qaeda. If they are found out at any moment they'd be dead. We've seen al Qaeda killing spies in Pakistan and around the sort of where their training camps are in Pakistan. So it's clear to everyone the stakes are really high. And the Saudis have other operations ongoing. This potentially compromises them too.

ANDERSON: This is remarkable stuff. I mean we are told that this mole, as it were, is now in Saudi. But like you say, the issue of compromising your agents at this point is at play.

Charlie, how surprised were you to learn that this intelligence on what was a foiled bomb plot was from a mole?

CHARLIE ALLEN, FRM. U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY UNDERSECRETARY: Well, we work hard to penetrate deeply into al Qaeda, whether it's in Pakistan or whether it's in Saudi Arabia or down in Yemen and with the affiliated networks in al Qaeda central we've had great success over the years. We not only have human source reporting, but we have technical intelligence that helps us deal with these threats. And we've successfully disrupted or dismantled a number of plots since 9/11 against the United States and have support our allies in Europe against such attacks.

ANDERSON: There is a sort of drip feed guys on information coming out on this story. I think the bigger picture is one that we need to throw out to our viewers tonight. While this story is fascinating, it is also chilling. What's clear tonight is that al Qaeda remains as committed as ever to bring down an airliner.

But as Brian Todd now reports, what's less certain is whether they could have succeeded. Have a look at this and we'll talk to our guests.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORREPSONDENT: A senior administration official tells CNN the device recovered in the alleged plot to bomb a plan bound for the U.S. was not made to be implanted inside the body. U.S. officials describe it as an evolution of the bomb smuggled on board a U.S. bound plane on Christmas Day 2009, a non-metallic device found inside the attacker's underwear.

A key question now, could those full body imaging machines now in U.S. airports and some overseas have detected it? Top security officials are confidenct.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In this particular case, many believe that that would have caught this particular device.

TODD: And Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says there's a high likelihood the bomb would have been detected if the attacker tried to slip it past U.S. security. Those body scanners, which we once tested, can see through clothes, reveal contours, detect prosthesis.

But a government audit said it's not clear if they would have caught the Christmas Day bomber's device. And a TSA inspector-general's report says there are vulnerabilities in these machines. I asked former FBI assistant director Tom Fuentes, a CNN contributor, about that.

Could these body scanners have detected this device, do you think?

TOM FUENTES, FRM. FBI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: I think someone going through a body scanner, it may have been detected depending on how they packaged the explosive. If you have a large plastic container and you've got that between your legs that may have shown up on that type of scanner. The problem is you don't have enough of those, even in the United States, much less the rest of the world.

TODD: The Department of Homeland Security says there are about 700 body scanners deployed in more than 180 airports inside the U.S. and at hundreds of locations around the world. But they're up against a terrorist who may have figured out how to evade them. Ibrahim al-Asiri, bomb making mastermind for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. He once placed a bomb inside the body of his own brother which came close to killing a top Saudi official.

It's not clear whether al-Asiri made this latest device, but intelligence officials say he was behind the Christmas Day attack and the 2010 plot to send printer bombs to the U.S. Both were thwarted, but came close.

PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM EXPERT: This is a bomb maker who learns from his mistakes. This is a bomb maker who is growing in sophistication, growing in confidence, a bomb maker who may have access to a greater amount of chemicals now in Yemen, perhaps even laboratories.

TODD: Experts say that's because al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has made territorial gains in Yemen recently, established a deeper safe haven, and now claims to have access to all that material. And, they say, al-Asiri is believed to have trained several other individuals on his techniques. So if he's killed, someone else will take up that work.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Nic, we've seen Brian's report there. And I guess this story over the past 48 hours, if nothing else, has underlined one significant question for me and the rest of our viewers watching tonight, have we learned anything in the past 48 hours that would lead us to believe that we are closer today to another attack on either U.S. or for example European soil.

ROBERTSON: We know that it's coming. We know that our best defenses, the intelligence assets that stop this. We're pretty confident or unfortunately confident that al Qaeda can make a device, possibly this device, that could get through airport security with two sources who have talked to us from Saudi Arabia. One of them indicated it's possible this device actually would be off if the agent was flown out of the country. If that is the case, this device got through airport security in Yemen. We don't know that for sure. But all the experts are telling us al Qaeda is capable of building a device that can get through the security which means the only safety net is the informant.

ANDERSON: Charlie, you probably have forgotten more about Homeland Security than most of us will ever know. Your thoughts and reflections on what you've learned over the past 48 hours in what has been this latest foiled bomb attack?

ALLEN: Well, my first impression, of course, is that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, even with the loss of Anwar al-Awlawki and Samir Kahn are determined still to attack the west and attack the United States in particular. So that answers the question, you know, is AQAP in some disarray about international operations. Clearly it's not. It's clearly intent on continuing to attack us. And I agree with the Secretary of Homeland security that we have pretty high confidence we would have detected this particular device, but if the device was inside the body such as surgically implanted we don't have the type of equipment to do that.

But we do have multiple layered security procedures. It's not just imaging, it's not just magnetometers. We check every name with great depth against a vast array of databases. So there's a whole array of events that occur before a person gets on an airplane.

ANDERSON: In your experience, and let's admit here, you know, the luck was that there was a mole involved here who was able to infiltrate the organization and bring the information home. To your mind, is that the exception that proves the rule or is that a workable device going forward, that being the mole?

ALLEN: The mole is very crucial. We call them assets. We penetrate. We have penetrated. And I think we'll continue to penetrate organizations like AQAP and other affiliated al Qaeda networks. I'm confident of this. I'm confident we'll continue to be on the offensive.

I think the thing that really actually comes to my mind is we're aggressive internationally on intelligence working with our closest allies including those in Europe and we're going to continue to. And we have good -- despite at times irritation and relationships with services in the Middle East, we remain very -- on very good terms overall with all our Middle Eastern Services.

ANDERSON: Briefly, what of this spat as it were, this diplomatic spat between the Saudis and the U.S. done for relations?

ROBERTSON: It casts a bigger pall over the Yemeni officials are saying they were left out of the loop not only by their neighbors, the Saudis which it becomes sort of a regional point of contention, but also by the United States, but they're beholden to the United States and the Saudi Arabia for funds to essentially to keep Yemen going at this point of crisis in their history.

So perhaps that is where the bigger damage may be done, because that's where al Qaeda is, it's int Yemen. And you absolutely need the full cooperation of the government there.

Saudi officials and U.S. officials will no doubt get beyond this. This is not as big as the falling out we've seen between U.S. and Pakistan.

ANDERSON: Charlie Allen in Washington and Nic, always a pleasure to have you on the show. Nic Robertson, our senior international correspondent on this story for you tonight.

You're watching Connect the World live from London. Our top story, the U.S. has begun an internal inquiry into whether its security agencies leaked information about the thwarted plot to bring down an airliner. We know -- we now know that the would-be bomber was, in fact, a mole who was working for Saudi Arabia. A fascinating insight into the shadowy world of the intelligence services, but at what cost to the efforts to keep us all safe from terrorism.

Still to come, President Obama speaks out on gay marriage. We're going to tell you what he said and the reaction he is now getting from both sides of the debate.

And defying calls for his resignation, Pakistan's prime minister tells me there is a lack of trust, or a trust deficit between his country and the United States.

And you're lucky if you catch a ball at a baseball game, even luckier when it lands in your pint. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back.

You found me. There you are.

Tonight, Greece is still without a government. The leader of the radical left Syriza party has failed in his attempts to form a coalition. What a mess. If no party can reach a deal, new elections will have to be called, plunging the country into more economic uncertainty. As the political wrangling continues, investors, well they are getting spooked, fearing yet another EuroZone crisis.

Reflected in the markets' view today. Let's take a look at the scene across Europe and indeed in the U.S. The Spanish market off 2.5 percent or more, Paris market down not as much. The FTSE down about a half of one percent. You can the Dow Industrial there down three-quarters of a one percent.

The American investors in these markets and in their own markets don't like this economic turmoil across Europe. And that reflected with the market closing out at 12,835 plus some shillings as they would say in the old days.

Here's a look at some of the other stories that we are connecting our world tonight.

And President Barack Obama has won praise from gay rights groups after announcing in the past hour or so his support for same-sex marriage. In an interview with ABC News, the president said same-sex couples should be allowed to get married.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: At a certain point, I'd just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, our chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin joins me now for our viewers who are not as imbued in U.S. politics as you are, Jessica, just how significant has this announcement been.

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: This is considered a major development here in U.S. domestic politics, because it's the first time a president has come out in favor of same-sex marriages here. And it's considered a flashpoint in social policy in the U.S.

Just yesterday a measure in the state of North Carolina was passed outlawing -- passing a constitutional amendment outlawing not only things like marriages, but civil unions, even domestic partnerships. And that is in the very state the president is not just hopes to win, but where he's holding his convention.

So it just shows you how divided this country is on that issue. And to date, the president has said his position on same-sex marriage is, quote, evolving. That was read by many in the press corps and especially in the press corps as a way to avoid saying where he really stands on the issue because it's considered such a hot button political issue.

And his hand was sort of forced on this topic this week, because two of his -- a cabinet official and the vice president came out saying where they stood on the issue. And so he had to finally come clean on where he stands. And so he had to finally come clean on where he stands and so he has said what's in his heart that he is in favor of gay marriage. It is major news, Becky.

ANDERSON: With six months to go, or just less than that, Jessica, before the election, a significant and controversial statement from the U.S. president. Thank you for that. And we're going to take a very short break here on Connect the World.

You're watching CNN live from London. What would you do if a baseball landed in your beer? Well, Don Riddell and I are going to be chatting about that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, the word soccer is sort of synonymous with the Spanish, isn't it? Champion's league has had Real Madrid and Barcelona at least through to the sort of semifinals of the stage. But it's been a dominant season for Spanish teams across the board in Europe. And two rivals looking set to get their hands on some silverware. We're going to go to Don Riddell at CNN Center with the details on this.

There's a game going on at present, which is -- well, let me use the word sublime at least as far as the goals are concerned.

DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, two fabulous goals from Falcao in the Europa League final, Becky. Thanks very much.

Yeah, this is an all Spanish affair in Bucarest in Romania. It's Athletic Bilbao against Atletico Madrid. As it stands, Atletico are heading for their second Europa League title in just three years and that's because Falcao has scored two absolutely stunning goals.

Bilbao haven't had much of a look in, or at least they certainly didn't in the first half. Atletico have had a fabulous season and Falcao really knows how to play at this kind of level. Remember, he played in the Europa League final for Porto only last season scoring the winning goal. Now he's doing it for Madrid as well.

ANDERSON: Don't you think it's just wrong that there are two teams in Madrid who are brilliant, one in Bilbao and one in Barcelona. I just think it's wrong.

RIDDELL: Well, Real Madrid aren't that brilliant. Remember they went out of the semifinal stage of the Champion's League to Bayern Munich, but they have won La Liga. So...

ANDERSON: They are going to win the league -- well they've won it anyway -- yeah, all right. All right. OK. Tell Jose Mourinho that, that they're not that brilliant.

Let's move on before you get yourself into trouble.

RIDDELL: You put those words in my mouth. It wasn't my fault.

(LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: Jose Mourinho might like this, because there is some surfing scenes out of Portugal tonight on something I feel like I wish I had done when I was younger but don't think I ever would have done nor certainly would never have done like this.

RIDDELL: Yeah, you know what, I've seen these pictures before. This actually happened in November, but I will never get tired of seeing them. This is now a world record, that's why this is back in the news again today.

Gareth McNamara surfing 78 foot wave. We thought he had done it back in November. The previous record was 77 feet, but it's now been authenticated. The Guinness Book of Records has accepted it as record. And Becky, of course no one gets out there with a tape measure, they can't do that. So they get a lot of surfing experts. They get a lot of surf photography experts and they painstakingly analyze the video and the photographs and somehow they come up with 78 feet. I don't know how they do it. But that is just an incredible achievement.

ANDERSON: Just help me. So the news today gets into -- that it gets into the Guinness Book of Records. Is it the surfer or the wave who gets cited.

RIDDELL: Ooh. That's a good question. Well, they'll both be mentioned, of course, but I mean the record is it was the biggest wave that was successfully surfed.

ANDERSON: Right. OK.

RIDDELL: You don't get in the records for trying a 78 foot wave and falling off your board.

(LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: Well, I'm sure in World Sport you can underline that and stamp some authority on exactly what it is. World Sport coming up in an hour from now.

Finally I understand you want to show me a little baseball trick.

RIDDELL: Yeah, I'm not sure if this is a trick, but it's a great video from the Padres game against the Rockies, two pretty lousy teams in Major League Baseball this year. But this is a great clip as you can see. The ball going into the crowd. It ends up at the top of that guys beer of all place.

And what would you do if a ball landed in your beer? Well, there you go, you lick it of course in front of the arena and national television.

I don't know anything about that guy, Becky, but judging from that evidence I'd say he's played rugby at some time in his career or you know...

ANDERSON: You know what, Don, he reminds me of you the night you had your leave in doo and you left the London bureau, no?

RIDDELL: Oh, really. OK. Cats out of the bag now.

And that guy has definitely got some frat house experience. He knows what to do.

(LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: Good stuff. Thank you for that. Don back in just about an hour, as I said, in World Sport.

Still to come on Connect the World in the next half hour. The prime minister of Pakistan tells CNN there is a deficit of trust between his country and the United States.

Also it's sweet name for lies, a bit of reality. We're going to visit a South African town that has become a symbol of broken promises. That is part of a series of reports out of the Rainbow Nation this week.

And from Boston to Buenes Aires. Find out why classical star Sarah Chang is playing to a whole new beat.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: A very warm welcome to our viewers across Europe and around the world. I'm Becky Anderson. These are the latest world news headlines from CNN.

The US has begun an internal inquiry into whether its security agency leaked information about the thwarted plot to bring down an airliner. Now, it follows revelations that the would-be bomber was a mole who had infiltrated al Qaeda while working for Saudi intelligence services.

US President Barack Obama says he believes that freedom to marry should extend to same-sex couples. He says his views on the topic have been constantly evolving, but the announcement put Mr. Obama squarely at odds with Mitt Romney, his likely Republican presidential rival.

Greece is still without a government. In the last few hours, the leader of the radical left Syriza Party has failed in his attempt to form a coalition. If a deal isn't reached in the next few days, new elections will have to be called, plunging the country into more economic uncertainty.

And Indonesian authorities are searching for a Russian airliner that went missing with as many as people onboard. The Sukhoi SuperJet 100 was on a failed demonstration flight when it vanished from the radar screen in a mountainous area near Jakarta.

Those are your headlines this hour.

Well, in a week that saw a terrorist plot foiled, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that Pakistan needs to do more to stamp out militants living within its borders. The Pakistani prime minister was in London today to meet with his British counterpart, and I caught up with him to talk about what are deteriorating US-Pakistan relations. Have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON (voice-over): US troops patrolling the volatile and dangerous Afghan-Pakistan border. Stamping out al Qaeda and other militant groups here is seen as a vital part of the fight against terrorism.

Pakistan may be a key US ally, but the relationship is far from harmonious. Washington is not convinced Pakistan is doing enough to tackle terrorism on its patch. That lack of trust isn't the only blot on this crucial relationship. Pakistan is calling for an end to US drone strikes on its territory, the latest suspected strike just four days ago.

At home, Pakistan is facing a barrage of problems: a faltering economy, widespread poverty, and corruption. The man tasked with helping to steer the country through troubled times, Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani. His position and government are under threat.

Last month, Pakistan's Supreme Court convicted the prime minister of contempt for refusing to reopen corruption proceedings against the president, Asif Ali Zardari. Critics said Gilani would struggle to remain prime minister. There was even talk of another coup. But Yousuf Gilani so far remains in power.

ANDERSON (on camera): In most other countries around the world, if a politician -- never mind a prime minister -- is convicted of a crime, if only on moral grounds, he would resign. Will you?

YOUSUF RAZA GILANI, PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN: According to my assessment and according to most of the parliament agents and even all the politicians think that whatever I have done, it's according to the constitution.

ANDERSON: I ask the question again: will you resign?

GILANI: If I'm -- if I'm disqualified. If I'm disqualified, notified by the speaker, yes, I have the -- I have to.

ANDERSON: Who is running the country in your absence?

GILANI: In fact, according to the constitution in my country, I have a cabinet, and everybody is working under the prime minister.

ANDERSON: I ask about who's running the country because it is important to the likes of, for example, Hillary Clinton, that they know that somebody is in charge. Clinton has said that Pakistan needs to do more to fight global terrorism.

To quote her, she said, "We look to the government to do more. We need to make sure its territory is not being used as a launching pad for terrorist attacks anywhere." Your response?

GILANI: We had excellent cooperation in intelligence between the ISI and the CIA, and all high-value targets in the world of al Qaeda, they have been achieved through the cooperation of CIA and ISI --

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: She says the al Qaeda chief is in Pakistan, is he?

GILANI: I'm -- I'm coming to this point. And when we have achieved all high-value targets jointly, if there is any credible or actionable information, please share with us.

ANDERSON: Why haven't you arrested Hafiz Saeed, thought to be the mastermind behind the attacks in Mumbai in 2008?

GILANI: We are waiting for some concrete sort of information and evidence.

ANDERSON: The States seem to believe that there is enough evidence to suggest that the al Qaeda leader is in Pakistan. Look me in the eye and tell me what more you need.

GILANI: If there is any credible, actionable information, please share with us, because we are already working with you. My ISI is working with CIA. What else do you want?

ANDERSON: Quite frankly, the CIA don't trust the ISI anymore.

GILANI: Then there's a trust deficit from both sides. This is not a case of United States alone. This is also from Pakistan, as well.

ANDERSON: There's a trust deficit on both sides, the CIA and the ISI.

GILANI: No. There's a trust deficit between both countries, between both governments. That is the reason we are wanting to -- want to work for a new terms of engagement and cooperation with the United States.

ANDERSON: Given Pakistani perceived lack of will, and this is coming from the States, to fight terrorists on home soil, is it no surprise that the US continues to launch drone attacks inside your country?

GILANI: As we always state, drones are counterproductive, and it's not lawful.

ANDERSON: So, what do you say to Hillary Clinton when you hear her line, "We look to the government to do more"? What are you doing?

GILANI: I think now is the time that they should do more.

ANDERSON: In the Gallup poll released within the last year, less than one third of Pakistanis have confidence in national government, in local police, in the honesty of elections.

Eighty-one percent see their government as rife with corruption, and only twenty percent, one in five, approve of their national leaders, you being one of those. This is a damning indictment, Prime Minister, of what is, let's be frank, a dysfunctional society.

GILANI: Either you say democracy, or you say dictatorship. And if you want to go for a democracy, then you have to respect the will of the people.

ANDERSON: A third of Pakistanis want to leave the country. That's what the latest Gallup poll says.

GILANI: And why don't they leave, then? Who is stopping that?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Pakistani prime minister speaking to me earlier in London.

Still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD, no water, no electricity, no decent housing. The hardships of one South African town beg the question, is the government there breaking its promises to the poor? The latest in what is a special week-long series right ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, it's been a role model for the world's aspiring democracies. I don't have to tell you that. But critics say that South Africa is now heading down a troubling road.

All this week here on this show, we've been looking at concerns that the very party that fought for democracy in South Africa may now be undermining it to strengthen its own grip on power.

Yesterday, we told you about perceived threats to the constitution. The ruling ANC, the African National Congress, also wants a review of judicial powers. And the day before, Monday, we met this mayor who wears a bulletproof vest, fearing he'll be attacked after the ANC lost a local election.

Well, tonight, we'll be joined by a top ANC figure, who will respond to some of these charges. But first, the latest installment in what is this week-long series, Robyn Curnow, my colleague, takes us to a town that's come to symbolize broken promises.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MAN PLAYING GUITAR AND SINGING)

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He calls his guitar Rocky.

(MAN PLAYING GUITAR AND SINGING)

CURNOW: Says it's his best friend.

TOMMY INSHANGASA (ph), SWEETWATERS RESIDENT: Fantastic, but sometimes you know our people can be. But this is my true friend. When I come into my house after all the stresses of the day, it comforts me. I can play some melodies and forget a bit about the hardships for us.

CURNOW: In his shack, in a place called Sweetwaters, just outside Johannesburg, Tommy Inshangasa says he knows all about broken promises.

ISHANGASA: When Zuma came here, he promised people that he's going to build houses for all the residents of Sweetwaters.

CURNOW: President Zuma visited here in 2010. The residents of Sweetwaters say they're still waiting, for the houses, for the water, for the electricity, for the jobs the president and his party have promised over the years.

Most here say they voted for Zuma's party, the ANC, but that doesn't stop them from taking to the dusty streets to protest, to show their anger, their impatience.

That's Daniel Mpraty (ph) on the left in the front. He's 22 years old, unemployed, didn't finish school, like so many of South Africa's youth.

CURNOW (on camera): How angry are you with the government?

DANIEL MPRATY, SWEETWATERS RESIDENT: I'm very, very, very, very angry. Very, very angry. Because they don't want to do us anything. They always keep it -- empty promises, empty promises, empty promises.

CURNOW (voice-over): The ANC says they're a victim of their own success in delivering basic services in other communities.

QGWEDE MANTASHE, SECRETARY GENERAL, ANC: I always explain it as the push-pull effect of deliver. When you deliver, there's more pressure to deliver more.

CURNOW: Critics say his party has created a culture of handouts.

CURNOW (on camera): In communities like this across South Africa, despite frustration, even anger, at the government, there are 15 million people or more on social welfare here. That's about one state grant per household, which ensures a massive political loyalty towards the ANC no matter what.

CURNOW (voice-over): So, for most here, there's no other option but to vote ANC. "Not vote for Daniel," he says. "He's tried to get attention through violence."

CURNOW (on camera): For you? You have to get violent, you have to burn tires.

MPRATY: Yes.

CURNOW: You have to sing angry songs.

MPRATY: Yes.

CURNOW: Do you think that's the only way you're going to be heard?

MPRATY: Yes. Because if you will write a letter to them, they won't respond.

CURNOW (voice-over): Since that hasn't worked, next he says he'll do something radical for a young black South African.

MPRATY: I won't vote for ANC next election. I will go with DA.

CURNOW (on camera): The opposition.

MPRATY: Yes. Maybe they will do something better.

CURNOW: The DA is seen as a white party by some people. You think --

MPRATY: Yes.

CURNOW: -- you'd be willing to vote for them?

MPRATY: Yes, I will vote for them.

CURNOW (voice-over): The people of Sweetwaters, who have so little, their democratic right to vote for or against the ANC might just be the most valuable commodity they'll ever own.

(MAN SINGING AND PLAYING GUITAR)

CURNOW: Robyn Curnow, CNN, Sweetwaters, South Africa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: All right, some strong accusations there against the ruling ANC. Let's give them a chance to respond. We're joined by Lindiwe Zulu, who is one of President Jacob Zuma's most trusted advisors.

Lindiwe, the ANC came into power on a mandate to deliver services to the poor, yet this film seems to show your government is not succeeding in that. Are you failing to deliver on your promise to South Africa's poor? There were certainly some very, very angry people in that report.

LINDIWE ZULU, ADVISOR TO SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT: Becky, we are not failing in our delivery. We have challenges in our delivery, and we have accepted the fact that we have those challenges.

We have committed ourselves to continue looking for better ways of improving the lives of South Africans. We have a government which is committed, which has shown to a very large extent that it is committed to this. That is why --

ANDERSON: All right --

ZULU: -- we're accepting the fact that the --

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: Lindiwe --

ZULU: -- we could have done better than we have.

ANDERSON: Lindiwe, what's the difference between challenges and failure?

ZULU: Failure is when you completely don't do anything. If you do, you do it so badly that there is absolutely nothing that shows that you've done anything.

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: And you don't believe you're there?

ZULU: Challenges is when you do something, you find -- I don't believe we are there. I believe that we have done quite a lot from where we were just 18 years ago. We have done a lot, particularly if you consider the very backlog that we found in South Africa. We think that we have done quite a lot, and we accept that we have not --

ANDERSON: All right.

ZULU: -- done as much as we could have possibly done.

ANDERSON: Let's talk about -- Lindiwe, let's talk about corruption, tonight. At all levels of government, we are getting reports of local, national, governmental corruption. What is your government -- and I don't think you'd sit here and look me in the eye tonight and say it didn't exist. So what's your government doing to ease the sense from the people that this is a corrupt society?

ZULU: I can look at you straight in the face and say that yes, it does exist. But we cannot be labeled as a corrupt society because that's exactly not what we are. Yes, we have elements of corruption in our midst.

And secondly, we ourselves have accepted the fact that there is corruption, but we've put systems in place to try and deal with that corruption in the best way that we can.

We have identified the weaknesses within the government systems, where that -- where exactly that is. We have identified that. We've put systems in place to deal with it --

ANDERSON: All right.

ZULU: -- at all levels of government.

ANDERSON: Lindiwe, you're critics will say that one of the moves your government is taking is to muzzle the media in South Africa in order to stop journalists from reporting on corruption. How do you respond to that?

ZULU: I respond by saying that there is media freedom in South Africa. We fought for it, we will protect it, we will do everything we can to make sure that there's media freedom.

Having said that, though, we are saying that there's also -- media freedom comes with responsibility from all sides. The media also has to be responsible. The media in South Africa also have to understand that they have a role to play in transforming the society that we are all trying to work so hard to transform into a better society.

ANDERSON: Lindiwe Zulu, it's good to have you on the show. This is a series of reports that we will be using for programming this week on CNN, and I do hope others of your colleagues will join us as we continue to explore some of the issues that South Africans face today. Lindiwe Zulu on CONNECT THE WORLD this evening.

When we come back, a violin virtuoso, Sarah Chang, arrives in what is the tango capital of the world to learn how to dance and play a new kind of tune. That is Fusion Journeys, and that is after this.

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(TANGO MUSIC)

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ANDERSON: Well, she started her career at the age of eight, a child prodigy who turned into one of the world's greatest violinists. Well, now she is on a journey of discovery in Buenos Aires learning how to play a more raw kind of music. I'm going to introduce you to this lady and the tango.

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(JET ENGINE)

(CLASSICAL MUSIC)

SARAH CHANG, CLASSICAL MUSICIAN: My name is Sarah Chang. I'm a classical violinist. I have been recording since I was nine years old. Normally, I tour all year round, performing with different orchestras all over the world.

(TANGO MUSIC)

CHANG: I traveled to Buenos Aires to learn all about the tango, the culture, the music, and the dancing.

One of the cornerstones of the tango culture is definitely the dancing, so I met up with dance instructor Nora Schwartz, who is going to try to teach me what it's all about.

NORA SCHWARTZ, TANGO INSTRUCTOR: Tango needs flexion. It's not here, it's not ballet. Tango is a dirty dance.

Please. I will correct you. It's right here. That could be good for the violin, I don't know. But it's not good for dancing tango. You need this posture. When you walk backwards --

CHANG: Right.

SCHWARTZ: -- you are pulling them man.

CHANG: OK. Is that a bad thing? Pulling the man is a bad thing?

SCHWARTZ: Yes, it's a bad thing.

CHANG: I've come to La Casa de Tango to meet Orquestra Tipica Andariega.

UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: Uno, dos, tres!

CHANG: They're going to play some traditional tango music for me so I can get a sense of how different their sound, rhythm, and colors are from classical music.

I'm really excited. I've never worked with a band before. I usually work with orchestras or with pianos, so it's a completely different format.

I've never played with a bandoneon before, and these Argentinian musicians, they have such flair and color and dynamic, and I just -- I hope that I do their music justice, because I didn't grow up with tango. I grew up in the States. I went to Julliard. It's as classically trained as you can possibly get.

I think learning tango dance is really important, because I don't think you can actually play tango music as well as you should unless you experience the movements of tango dance and you expose your eyes and your ears to every element that there is to a tango.

Tonight, I'm meeting Nora and some of her friends at a milonga, which is essentially a place where people come together to go tango dancing.

This milonga was definitely for locals and not tourists.

I was immediately sort of taken back by how happy everybody was and how tango is this beautiful, gorgeous, very physical dance, but at the same time, it can last you throughout your entire lifetime. I think that has opened up a completely new door for me, and I'm really looking forward to this, this fusion.

(JET ENGINE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: And do join us on Friday for the last part of Sarah's journey. We're going to see her perform with a traditional band as they fuse classical music with tango.

But if you can't wait until Friday, you can find out more about her journey on the website, cnn.com/fusionjourneys. Read all about Sarah's experience and how she feels it's influenced her career. You'll find all of our Fusion Journey men and women there. It's been a fascinating series.

Just time this evening for some reaction to one of our top stories tonight. Many celebrities have turned to Twitter to share their feelings over Barack Obama's support of same-sex marriage just in the past hour or so, an historic announcement.

Openly gay talk show host Ellen DeGeneres tweeted, "Thank you President @BarackObama for your beautiful and brave words. I am overwhelmed." Sort of wouldn't expect her to say anything else, would you?

Jane Lynch from the show "Glee" wrote, "Pretty darn happy today. Thanks, Mr. President, for supporting the dignity of my family and so many others." That is how Sue sees it.

Mike Bloomberg tweeted, "No matter the setbacks, freedom will triumph over fear, and equality will prevail over exclusion." A Republican, don't forget. I wonder if Mitt Romney agrees with the mayor of New York.

Perez Hilton, celebrity blogger, saying, "Better late than never. Equality for all."

And an interesting one for you tonight. Meghan McCain, who is the daughter of the former presidential candidate and Republican, of course, John McCain, tweeted, "Even though he did it a little late under political pressure, very happy to hear the president come out in support of gay marriage."

And finally, actor Neil Patrick Harris simply said, "Bravo, Mr. President, and thank you."

I'm Becky Anderson, that was CONNECT THE WORLD, thanks for watching. World news headlines up next.

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